Centrifugal dehumidifier



Jah. 16, 1940. M P,v YOUKER 2,187,066

CENTRIFUGAL DEHUMIDIFIER Filed nec.' s, 1937 WM INVENToR.

Patented Jm.1e,194o

UNITED g STATES PATENT OFFICE My new invention relates to the heating and cooling of the atmosphere of inhabited quarters, and in particular, relates to the removal of excess water from such air during the process of cooling.

Conventional apparatus commonly used for heating and cooling air does not provide countercurrentv heat exchange between the cooling or heating medium and the air, also such equipment does not provide for the complete removal of excess water contained in the air which is cooled. By my new invention counter-current heat exchange is effected between the heating or cooling medium, and the air treated, and of marked importance, excellent means for removing excess water from air which is cooled is provided by my new invention. The advantageous manner by which these accomplishments are obtained, and likewise other accomplishments, will be made apparent in the following specication' taken in connection with the accompanying drawing.

Figure 1 illustrates a horizontal cross-section taken through the apparatus on line I--I of Fig.

v2, looking down on the device.

Figure 2 illustrates a cross-section taken along the vertical plane 2-2 through Figure 1.

Figure 2-A illustrates the closed end of the apparatus in elevation.

Referring to the drawing, the numeral 3 designates a horizontal metal cylinder, one end of which is closed by a circular metal plate 4, which is perpendicular to the axis of cylinder 3. A circular plate 5, in the center of which is a circular orifice 6, and the outer edge of which is attached to the cylinder 3, is disposed within and perpendicular to the axis of cylinder 3. A motor l is disposed withinrcylinder 3 and rigidly held in place by a supporting bar 8, the extremities of which are attached to cylinder 3. The motor drive shaft 9 is disposed along the axis of cylinder 3 and extends through the orice 6. A centrifugal blowing wheel is vmade up of a circular plate I Il, to which are attached blades I I, and which is attached to the extremity of shaft 9. The plate I is disposed in a plane perpendicular to the axis of the cylinder 3, and the blades I I are disposed perpendicular to the plate I0 in planes which are radial with respect to shaft 9. The fan blades II are so 4disposed as to t neatly and close with respect to plate 5. A metal sheet i2 is formed in the shape of the surface of a frustrum of a cone, the small end of which is attached to plate 5' concentric with orifice 6. The plate I2 projects from plate 5 to a point beyond plate I0. Plate I2' may be omitted,

in which case the pipe coil I Il will be extended to plate 5. Separator plates I3 are formed in the shape of a segment of a cylinder, and are attached to each other and to cylinder 3 by means of bolts i4, which also serve to maintain 5 an opening between these separator plates themselves and also between them and the cylinder 3, except that one longitudinal edge I3a of one separator plate is turned outwardly at an angle to contact cylinder 3. A pipe coil I5, the extremities and 2i of which project'through separator plates I3 and cylinder 3, and between the individual coils of which there is an opening, is disposed parallel to and within the separator plates I3 and the cylinder 3. A conduit I6 is l5 tangentially connected into cylinder 3, the wall of the cylinder 3 being partially cut away to aiord free communication between the inside of cylinder 3 and the inside of conduit I6. Drain pipes l1 and I 8 pierce the cylinder 3 and the plate 20 5 respectively and lead away from the apparatus.

A damper I9 is disosed within conduit I6. A dam ring 22 is provided to prevent flow of water from the space between cylinder 3 and separator plates I3. Suitable conduits may be connected to the 25 open end of'. cylinder 3 and the open end of conduit IS'through which air may be led to and from the apparatus.

For the purpose of cooling air the apparatus will be operated as follows:

A refrigerating medium will be delivered through the pipe coil I5. The motor 1 will be utilized to rotate the centrifugalblower, thus causing air to flow through the orifice 6 to the blower and thence between the blades Il. Air which will iiow between the blades II will be delivered from their outer extremities while rotating at high velocity and this air, while still rotating at high velocity, will strike the plate I2 and will be deflected thereby and will flow there-v from while still rotating at high velocity in the direction toward the plate 4, and upon reaching the closed end of the cylinder 3, while still rotating, this air will ow therefrom through the tangential conduit I6. Air which will pass through that part ofthe cylinder in which is disposed the pipe coil I5 will contact this pipe coil while rotating at high velocity, ,and will, by such contact be cooled and, as fa result of such cooling, water vwill be precipitated from l this air in the form of a very fine mist and, as a result of the rapid rotation of the air so cooled, the water mist formed therein will, by centrifugal force, be thrown against the separator plates I3 and will iiow through the opening between these Y point refrigerant apparatus air which separator plates and thence to the bottom oi' the cylinder 3 and thence therefrom through the drain pipe I1. When the unit is horizontally disposed, drain pipe I1 is located in the lower side of the cylinder 3. A second drain pipe i8 is provided in the circular plate l for the removal of water in the event the cylinder 3 is vertically disposed. Through the manipulation of the damper l! the quantity of air delivered through the cylinder 3 will be regulated. In case a variable boiling point refrigerant is utilized. such refrigerant will preferablyA be delivered into pipe coil il through extremity 2li and away from pipe coil I5 through extremity 2l in order that counter-current heat exchange between the air and the refrigerant may be obtained. In case a constant boiling is utilized. such refrigerant preferably will be deliveredinto the pipe coil Il through extremity 2| and therefrom through extremity 2l. It should be noted that by this is to be cooled will be contacted with a cold metal surface at very high velocity which will materially assist in obtaining heat exchange. It should be particularly noted that air which is being cooled is at the same time rotating at high velocity, and that as a result of such a state of motion any water precipitated in the air will be immediately thrown therefrom by centrifugal force and will be separately recovered.

For the purpose of heating air my new apparatus will be operated as has been outlined above for the purpose of cooling air, except a heating medium, such as hot water or vapor, will be delivered through the pipe coil I l, and that, of course, no precipitation of water will take place in the air heated. In case the heating mediuni should consist of a hot liquid or the vapor of a variable boiling point liquid, I will preferably vdeliver such heating medium into the pipe coil Il through extremity 2l and away from pipe coil Il through extremity 2| in order that counter-current heat exchange may be obtained. the damper Il will be utilized to regulate the quantity of air passed through the cylinder 3 to thus secure regulation oi' the temperature to which such air is heated. Decreasing the amount of' air delivered through the cylinder 3 will increase the final temperature of such air and vice versa.

It should be particularly noted that the energy supplied to the motor l is simultaneously utilized to accomplish the purposes of transporting air, changing the temperature of air and centrifuging precipitated water from air. The apparatus,

therefore. obtains economy in that three desirable purposes are simultaneously accomplished through the expenditure of less energy than would be required to separately accomplish the three purposes.

The diameter of the pipe coil I5 is such that the outer surface of the coil is in contact with separator plates I3, therefore, air delivered from the blower will not flow through the opening between the separate pipe coils but will be restricted to flow through the cylindrical passageway formed by the pipe coils as a whole. I'he air which will iiow through this passageway, formed by the pipe coil II, will, at the same time, be rotating at high velocity. The dam ring 22 and the edge of one of plates I3, which is turned to contact cylinder 3, will eifectually prevent flow of air through the space between plates I3 and cylinder 3. Rotation of the centrifugal blower will preferably be in the direction such that air delivered from it will flow along the screw formed by the pipe coil.

While I have described in detail one' specinc form of my new apparatus, it should be understood that I do not propose to limit myself to the details shown, but intend to claim broadly all of the new and novel features which are inherent in my invention.

I claim:

l. Apparatus for cooling and dehumidifying air, comprising a casing, inlet and outlet openings in said casing, a longitudinally disposed separator shell spaced inwardly from the walls of the casing, cooling means within the confines of said shell, a centrifugal blower adjacent said inlet opening arranged to whirl a current of air over said cooling means and againstthe inner surface of said shell, openings in said shell to permit condensate to escape from said shell into the space surrounding the latter, and means for draining said separated condensate from said space.

2. Apparatus for cooling and dehumidifying air, comprising a cylindrical casing, air inlet and outlet openings in said casing, a longitudinally disposed separator shell spaced inwardly from said casing, a condensate chamber surrounding said shell, cooling coils within the confines of said shell, a centrifugal blower adjacent said. inlet opening arranged to whirl a current of air over said cooling coils and against the inner surface of said shell, whereby said current of air will be cooled and the water of condensation deposited on said shell, openings in said shell to permit said condensate to escape into said condensate chamber, means for preventing the escape of condensate from said chamber into said air outlet opening, and means for draining the collected condensate from said chamber.

3. Apparatus for cooling and dehumidifying air, comprising a cylindrical casing, air inlet and outlet openings in said casing, a sexies of longitudinally disposed baiiies in said casing, spaced inwardly from the latter, a condensate chamber surrounding said baiiles, said bailes being spaced from one another to provide openings in comvmunication with said condensate chamber, cooling coils within the'connnes of said bailies, a centrifugal blower adjacent said air inlet opening arranged to whirl a current of air over said cooling coils and against said bellies. whereby said current of air is cooled and the water of condensation collected in said condensate chamber, a stop ring interposed between said casing and said bafes adjacent said air outlet opening, for preventing the escape of condensate from said chamber to said outlet, and means for draining said separated condensate from said chamber.

4. Apparatus as claimed in claim 3 wherein the longitudinal edge of one of said bailes is turned outwardly against the inner wall of said casing.

5. Apparatus for cooling and dehumidifying air, comprising a cylindrical casing, an air inlet opening in said casing, a series of longitudinally disposed baiiles in said casing, spaced inwardly from the latter, a condensate chamber surrounding said bailes, said baiiles being spaced from one another to provide radial openings in communication with said condensate chamber, cooling coils within the confines of said haines, a centrifugal blower adjacent said air inlet opening arranged to whirl a current of air over said coils and againstsaid baiii, whereby said current of air is cooled and water of condensation collected in said condensate chamber, a tangential air. outlet opening in said casing, a stop ring interposed between said casing and said baiiles adjacent said tangential outlet, for preventing the escape of condensate from said chamber to said outlet, and means for draining said separated-condensate from said chamber.

lll

6. Apparatus for cooling and dehumidifying air, comprising a cylindrical casing, an air inlet opening in one end of said casing, a longitudinally disposed separator shell spaced inwardly from said casing, a condensate chamber surrounding said shell, cooling coils within the contines of said shell, a centrifugal blower adjacent said inlet opening arranged to whirl a current of air over said cooling coils and against the inner surface of said shell, whereby said current of air will be cooled and water -of condensation deposited on said shell, openings in said shell to permit said condensate to enter said condensate chamber, a tangentia1 outlet opening in said casing, means adjacent said outlet for preventing the 

